Rossi: My NHL Awards ballot

Sidney Crosby is in Las Vegas for the NHL Award Show. There, he is expected to collect the Hart Trophy (MVP), Lindsay Award (Players’ player) and be named as an NHL first-team All-Star.

However, on Monday Crosby was in Vancouver to collect his Olympic championship ring – and he kind of opened up in an interview with good friend Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com.

The standout quote from Crosby concerned the Penguins’ identity:

“We have to find a way in the playoffs to elevate our game,” Crosby said. “It doesn’t mean change our identity, but we have to elevate it. We haven’t done quite as good a job at doing that. Me, personally, I’m not taking myself out of that mix either – going pointless against Boston (2013 conference final) and not really doing a whole lot in the New York series. It’s not easy to deal with that in the offseason. You don’t like having memories like that.”

Crosby has said the proper thing so often during his NHL career. His seeming inability to publicly acknowledge his part in Penguins’ recent playoff disappointments has at times – especially during the 2014 postseason – appeared to be a character flaw regarding his leadership.

In the interview with LeBrun, Crosby came as close as he has to taking on his shoulders the load a captain is expected to carry when his team underachieves.

Of course, Crosby achieved as much as any player could during the regular season. He should be rewarded at the NHL Awards on Tuesday night. Select members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote on some of the NHL Awards. My full ballot: